Q&A with Dean Parr, candidate for Stephenville City Council.

Dean Parr

Q. With the rapid population growth of Stephenville and Tarleton along with new laws restricting the city’s ability to annex, there is a greater likelihood of change and redevelopment in some of our older neighborhoods. What are your thoughts on how the city should manage protection of neighborhoods while maintaining a positive growth environment?

A. Tarleton has around 14,000 students enrolled. Its housing capacity is 3,167. We need to develop better university/community partnerships.

An increase of on-campus or campus provided housing is a must. Also, it would greatly benefit our city to look into housing quality standards where off campus housing exists. This could help ensure that our neighborhoods will remain well kept and clean.

A joint program with the university would help pay for the inspection and enforcement of the codes developed.

Q. Municipal employment has become very competitive making it more challenging to hire and retain quality employees including police and firefighters. How do you think city employee pay should be evaluated and how important do you think pay is to employee retention?

A. We need to research other cities pay rate for those same positions and compare to adjust.

If you are a business owner, you sometimes must look at your competitors pay rates and adjust, or you will continuously lose good employees to higher paying areas.

At the same time, we need to practice higher scrutiny when evaluating each employee’s job performance while considering pay.

If they don’t perform their job at its highest level, there is no sense in paying them top wage or keeping them for that matter.

Police and firefighter pay has always been an important area for me personally. I believe we should always be a little more than competitive in that department. Same with our schoolteachers.

Q. As an elected official, there is no clear requirement to spend a certain amount of your time on city issues. How much time do you anticipate the position will require in order to remain engaged and effective as a city councilman?

A. 24/7, 365 days a year. The people of Stephenville deserve no less.

Q. What qualities would you like to see in Stephenville’s next city manager?

A. Someone who has Stephenville’s citizen’s best interest at heart. We cannot put entities or outside sources needs above theirs.

Q. What educational and career experiences in your background make you the most qualified candidate for this position?

A. I’ve been in the construction business for over 30 years. Construction work takes teamwork.

I hope to have the chance to join our Chambers team and work with the continued growth and repair of our great city.